Efficiency of natural reproduction of sturgeons in the lower Volga under current conditions

The results are presented that have been obtained during long-term studies (1991–2009) on the efficiency of natural reproduction of the beluga, Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, and sterlet in different spawning zones of the Volga. The influence of major environmental factors on the formation of the offspring of these fishes is analyzed. It is shown that the productivity of Volga spawning grounds varies depending on the river flow volume during spring floods and the abundance of active spawners. Practical recommendations are proposed for enhancing sturgeon reproduction in the Volga.     

中华鲟濒危状况与物种保护对策的评估分析

濒危等级是确定物种优先保护顺序和制订濒危物种保育策略的重要依据。结合历史资料以及近年的监测数据,对长江中华鲟种群繁殖群体及补充群体数量与质量,关键栖息地胁迫因素及胁迫强度等的全面梳理,总结出了1981年以来中华鲟种群及环境胁迫的变动趋势。参照IUCN物种濒危程度的划分准则建立了中华鲟物种濒危等级的划分标准;同时按照10年一组对该物种不同年代下的濒危状况进行评估。中华鲟在1983~1992年代进入濒危程度;在2003~2012年代进入极危程度。中华鲟物种的濒危等级取决于自身种群质量以及人类活动及环境结构变化等多方面的综合影响。人类活动和环境结构变化对中华鲟的胁迫呈现多样性与复杂性,且整体呈现一定的时间和空间尺度上的差异。最后,基于物种的濒危状况以及胁迫因素,分析了不同年代内的对策及效果,在此基础上提出了物种保护工作的构架和保护行动的优先顺序。     

Species and Environmental Diversity of Fish of the Northern Dvina River Basin

The general characteristics of ichthyofauna from the Northern Dvina River are obtained. Based on the results of ichthyological surveys in 1984–2012, as well as bibliographical and archival data, the present composition of the fish community is presented with an accounting of introduced and self-colonized species. The taxonomic status of fish and their belonging to various faunal complexes is considered. In the ecological aspect, the belonging of fish to different ecological groups differing in the feeding and natural reproduction (spawning substrate, methods of spawning, and spawning periods) is distinguished.     

Geographic Variation in the Seasonal Reproductive Strategy of the Mite Varroa jacobsoni in the Honeybee Nest

Variation in the reproduction of Varroa jacobsoni mite was studied in relation to the expansion of the range of its parasitism on the honeybee. Geographic differences in the seasonal dynamics of mite reproduction in the nests of bee families were revealed. Variation in the sex ratio of mites and the factors inhibiting their reproduction at the northern boundary of the honeybee range are considered. The forms of parthenogenetic reproduction in V. jacobsoni are discussed.     

大坝下游河段的河流生态径流调控研究

了分析大坝工程对河流径流情势的影响,以三峡大坝下游河段的宜昌站为例,计算了三峡坝下河段的生态水文季节、生态需水和其它径流情势特征参数。计算结果表明,长江宜昌江段枯水期为1~3月份、副汛期为4~6月份和10~12月份,而洪水期为7~9月份;枯水期、副汛期和洪水期的最小生态需量占同期来水总量分别为24%~27%、30%~50%和30%~45%;适宜的生态需水在枯水期、主汛期分别占同时期来水总量为30%~42%、50%~70%;四大家鱼和中华鲟产卵、繁殖期内的适宜生态流量范围分别为 6 540~12 700 m3/s 和 16 300~9 130 m3/s,大约占同时期来水总量的50%~70%;涨水次数平均值分别为5.3和3.4,落水次数平均值分别为50和5.1等,这为三峡水库在四大家鱼和中华鲟产卵、繁殖期内的调度提供了保护的依据。〖     

Anthropogenic evolution of animals: Facts and their interpretation

Problems concerning microevolutionary transformations in animal populations are considered. It is shown that genetic variation is the main factor providing the basis for adaptation to environmental changes, including toxic pollution. The selection pressure of a toxic factor gives an advantage in survival to more resistant genotypes in animal populations, which eventually leads to the reduction of their genetic diversity and potential for adaptation to other natural or anthropogenic stress factors. Microevolutionary transformations follow the pattern of r-selection, i.e., occur in favor of smaller, earlier maturing individuals capable of expending a greater proportion of their energy resources for reproduction.     

Demographic features of populations of the marsh frog (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana ridibunda</Emphasis> Pall.) introduced into water bodies of the Middle Urals

Demographic characteristics of marsh frog (Rana ridibunda Pall.) populations have been studied in cooling reservoirs of Middle Ural thermal power plants, where this species was introduced accidentally. The reservoirs are similar in hydrochemical characteristics but differ in the thermal regime. The populations studied have been found to differ from the reference (natural) populations and from each other in a number of parameters, including the size and age composition of spawners, the type of spawning, and fecundity. Analysis of the results indicates that the observed differences have adaptive significance.     

汉江下游鱼类早期资源及梯级联合生态调度对鱼类繁殖影响的初步分析

汉江是长江一级支流,鱼类资源较为丰富。目前汉江中下游建有4座水利枢纽工程,对鱼类洄游和繁殖产生较大影响。在鱼类繁殖季节,为促进汉江中下游鱼类繁殖,2018年6月汉江中下游首次实施梯级联合生态调度。该研究在汉江下游汉川段设置监测断面,采集鱼类早期资源,以分析汉江下游鱼类早期资源多样性,及生态调度对促进汉江下游鱼类繁殖的效果。监测结果表明汉江下游卵苗种类共有36种（属）,其中22种为产漂流性卵鱼类。监测期间卵苗总径流量为118.78亿尾（粒）,其中四大家鱼卵苗为0.87亿尾（粒）,占0.73%,其中鱼卵0.69亿粒,推测汉江下游有4处四大家鱼产卵场。梯级联合生态调度期间,汉川江段出现一次鱼类产卵高峰,鱼卵径流量占总径流量的34.1%,其中四大家鱼鱼卵占家鱼卵总径流量的85.5%,表明梯级联合生态调度对汉江下游鱼类,特别是四大家鱼的繁殖具有积极的作用。建议今后继续开展生态调度,并加强监测和分析工作。     

Distribution of Zooplankton along the Longitudinal Profile of Two Disturbed Small Rivers of the Upper Volga Basin

The abundance and trophic structure of zooplankton along the longitudinal profile of two typical rivers in the Yaroslavl sector of the Volga region are determined by anthropogenic and zoogenic factors. The distribution of zooplankton under the influence of these factors is described by the concept of patch dynamics. The abundance of zooplankton reaches the highest values in the ameliorated upper reaches of rivers and in beaver ponds.     

日调节电站库区生态水文情势评价——以湘江干流衡阳站为例

河流生态水文情势对生态系统起着决定性作用,定量评估日调节电站库区中部生态水文情势影响,可为日调节电站的生态调度,维持河流生态健康等提供科技支撑。采用变动范围法（RVA）对湘江干流大源渡枢纽库区衡阳水文站1959~2015年逐日流量、水位及流速指标进行分析,采用生物多样性指标SI初步评估库区生物多样性的变化。结果表明:日调节电站蓄水后,库区中部生态水文变化特征及生态影响为：流速IHA指标整体改变度达到81%,流量IHA指标整体改变度为43%;4～7月月均流速降低（高度改变）不利于“四大家鱼”产卵活动;库区年极小值流量的增加利于保障自然栖息地和植物群落;年极值流速降低在改变库区河道地貌的同时加大生态环境风险;流量、流速年最小值出现时间发生100%改变,影响生物的生命活动;流量低脉冲历时和流速高脉冲历时高度改变,不利于刺激家鱼产卵繁殖活动;枢纽蓄水后SI值降低,生物多样性降低。     

Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda Pall.) in Cooling Ponds in the Middle Urals

Environmental conditions in cooling ponds of thermal power plants are favorable for marsh frogs. Their populations inhabiting Verkhne-Tagil and Reftinskoe reservoirs differ in some traits, such as size and age composition, growth rate after metamorphosis, spawning type, fecundity, and characteristics of larval development. Differentiation in body size manifests itself at the early stages of terrestrial life and progresses at later stages. As a consequence, larger individuals may reach maturity and participate in reproduction at an earlier age.     

Winter ecology of the pine marten (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes martes</Emphasis> L.) in the Volga floodplain opposite Samara

The footprint tracking method has been used to study specific features of winter ecology of pine martens inhabiting the Rozhdestvenskaya Floodplain of the Volga River. Attention has been paid to the size and demographic structure of the population, the distribution of footprints by habitats, home ranges and shelters, features of foraging and territorial behavior, reactions to objects of natural and anthropogenic origin, and interactions with heterospecific animals.     

Juvenile Dispersal in the Colonies of Spermophilus majorand S. suslicus Ground Squirrels

Natural dispersal of young animals was studied in the colonies of Spermophilus major and S. suslicus ground squirrels in the Volga region. On the basis of data obtained, this process was modeled taking into account the spatial–ethological structure of the colonies. In both species, male dispersal was more active, whereas the degree of natal philopatry was higher in females. The results of the study do not confirm the aggression concept of juvenile dispersal and indicate that its causes are related to hereditary behavioral tendencies. These results are compared with data on juvenile dispersal in other species of the genus Spermophilus.     

Changes in the structure of ichthyofauna in water bodies of Kaluga oblast over the past few decades

The structure of the ichthyofauna in water bodies of Kaluga oblast has undergone significant rearrangements over the past 20 years. The abundance of some species has increased, while that of other species has decreased; spontaneous dispersal of some fishes is underway. Synchronous fluctuations of fish abundance (“waves of life”) take place simultaneously in the Western Dvina, Dnieper, and Volga basins. These processes differ in intensity depending on fish species and are conditioned by a number of factors, including changes in hydrological regimes of rivers, improvement of the ecological state of small rivers, and increased poaching pressure. The results of monitoring the ichthyofauna fauna of small rivers are used as an example to trace the routes of fish dispersal and discuss changes in the composition of fish communities.     

Ecological Segregation of Bustards (Otididae) in the North of the Lower Volga Region: Evolutionary and Adaptive Aspects

Based on the concept of an ecological niche, the processes of segregation in the Lower Volga populations of great and little bustards (Otis tarda L. and Tetrax tetrax L). have been studied in the evolutionary and adaptive aspects. The results have shown that segregation of the ecological niches of the two species occurs mainly on a trophic basis, when bird specialization in the use of food resources provides the possibility of changing the nesting biotopes. Some trophic adaptations are temporary and do not modify a species-specific stereotype, whereas other adaptations lead to the development of new forms of behavior and their evolutionary stabilization. Spatial characteristics (biotopic preference, nest location, etc.) complement the identified hierarchical series of parameters characterizing the ecological niches of the species studied. In the Transvolga region of Saratov oblast, the total sizes of great and little bustard populations in the breeding season reach approximately 4100 and 5900 birds, respectively.     

Change in the Life Cycle Strategy of Fish under the Effect of Chronic Water Pollution

Fish of a polymorphic and evolutionarily young species Coregonus lavaretusfrom a subarctic lake that has been polluted for more than 60 years are used as an example for analyzing principal trends in the dynamics of structural and functional organization of fish populations. It is shown that fish exposed to sublethal doses of toxic substances for a long time have a smaller body size, the period of their sexual maturation becomes more variable, and the frequency of spawning and life span decrease. The biochemical and bioenergetic mechanisms of variation in populations are analyzed. The ecological expediency of change in the life cycle strategy corresponding to r-selection (conversion to a short reproductive cycle) is substantiated.     

Analysis of the Patterns of Organization of Species Complexes of Ponto-Caspian and Ponto-Azovian Macrozoobenthos in the Middle and Lower Volga Reservoirs

Russian Journal of Ecology - The study of macrozoobenthos in the Middle and Lower Volga reservoirs has revealed stable cenotic complexes of Ponto-Caspian and Ponto-Azovian species, which are...     

“一带一路”国家天然气投资绩效评价及其改进路径

运用超效率数据包络分析(SE-DEA)方法,综合考虑目标国资源现状、政治因素、经济技术、社会条件、市场体制和国际合作情况,构建天然气投资绩效评价线性规划模型,并以2003—2013年中国对"一带一路"国家的天然气投资绩效均值进行聚类,结合规模报酬和投入要素的影子价格分析,提出目标国天然气投资绩效改进路径。结果显示:(1)中国对中亚及北亚、东南亚和南亚的天然气投资普遍处于中高效区,对独联体、中东欧洲和西亚北非地区的天然气投资普遍处于中低效区。(2)高效区国家自2012年起投资绩效处于规模报酬不变阶段,技术水平和国家经济对天然气贸易的依赖程度是影响投资绩效的关键因素。(3)中效区国家投资绩效大多处于规模报酬递增阶段,从2013年起总储量、人文地理和与中国油气合作状况成为影响中效区投资绩效的关键因素。(4)低效区国家投资绩效处于规模报酬递增阶段,国家经济对天然气贸易的依赖程度和技术水平要素是影响低效区投资绩效的关键因素;此外,对于处于低效区的中亚国家资源现状是影响投资绩效的另一关键因素,政治因素则是中东欧洲和独联体国家的关键因素,东南亚和南亚地区的投资关键因素则包含社会条件。这意味着,中国要提高在"一带一路"区域的天然气投资绩效,就要针对不同地区投资现状制定改进策略。对于高效区和低效区的中亚国家,未来中国要加强同目标国政府间的沟通,达成"以技术换气条款";对中效区和低效区的中东欧洲、独联体国家可采用与油气企业合作方式降低合作风险;对低效区的东南亚和南亚国家,可签订天然气长期贸易合同。     

Photosynthetic and biochemical characteristics of invasive species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L.</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iva xanthifolia Nutt.</Emphasis>) depending on soil humidity and phenological phase

Environmental factors like temperature and soil humidity are recognized as influencing factors on photosynthetic response and organic productivity, distribution and biochemical characteristics of plants. Here we present measurements of gas exchange parameters, water-use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of field-grown invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L. and Iva xanthifolia Nutt., in order to define their potentials as colonizers. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) in leaves and flowers depending on soil humidity were also investigated.     

Syntaxonomy of Southern Ural Forests as a basis for the system of their protection

Using the example of Southern Ural forests, it is shown that the Braun-Blanquet method is promising for estimating the efficiency of the system of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) and drawing up guidelines for its further development. In particular, evidence is provided that forests of the unions Aconito-Piceion and Lathyro-Quercion are protected quite insufficiently. Proposals concerning organization of new SPNAs are formulated.